Bee-swarm catcher.



Patented Mayf20, |902.

. 5. STEMMLER;

BEE swAn encuen.'

V (Appl-ication led July 19, 1901.2

(No Model.)

UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST STEMMLER, ou ZEULENRQDA, GERMANY.

BEE-SWARM CATCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,452, dated May 20, 1902. Applicatiou'iled July 19, 1901.` Serial No. 68,946. (N0 model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ERNST STEMMLER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Zeulenroda, Reuss,Elder Line,German y, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee-Swarm Catchers, of which the following is a specification.- l

This invention relates to means for catching bees when swarming, and has for its object to provide an improved device for such purpose which will enable the user to catch the swarm and the drones and queen in separate compartments; and with this object in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a vertical sectional view of a construction embodying my invention, part of the hive 'l being broken away. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the swarm-catcher and drone and queen trap, looking to the right, as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 1, omitting the hive. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing part of the door of the trap or catch apparatus. Y v

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the several fighres of the drawings. i

Referring to the drawings by letters, e in' dicates a hive of any approved construction,

provided in one wall, near the bottom, with a swarm-hole, as usual in hives.

c, b, and f indicate the several compartments of the trap or catch apparatus arranged one above the other in the order named, obeing the lowest and being provided with a spout or inlet i to' be inserted in the swarm-hole 0f the hive,l as shown in Fig. 1, when the bees are swarming.-

b is the queen and drone trap, and f the swarm-trap, the former being next above the trap-'compartment c and having communication therewith, as indicated by the arrows. The compartment c has' a ldoor in which the spout d is' secured, the door being hinged at its upper edge.

The swarm-trap f is above the queen and drone trap, has communication therewith through an openingas indicated by the arrow therein, and has a latticed side g next to the hive and air-hole hin the top covered with lattice oropen work,

A trap-board t' is pivoted intermediate its 55 ends in front of the swarm-hole and may be arranged, as shown in Fig. 1, to cause the bees leaving the hive to pass upward, as indicated by the arrow leading from the swarmlhole, or to pass out in the direction indicated 6o by` the horizontal arrows, (in dotted lines,) if so desired, the trap-board being held in either position by'means of a spring-latch located in a vertical slot in a hinged side a of the compartment c, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The openingfbetween the compartment c and the queen and drone trap compartment b is sufficiently large to permit of the passage of the whole swarm but the opening between compartments Yb and f is large enough to per= mit ofthe passageof the workers, kbut not large enoughtoallow the drones and queen to pass, sothat these l latter are confined in compartment b,whilethe workers pass on into compartment f.

When the drones and queen are trapped, the compartment b maybe removed, if desired, landthe compartmentf let down upon the compartment c. v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the'United States, lisf-- 1. A bee-swarmcatcher comprising a lower trap-compartment communicating with the hive and provided with an exit-openingI in line with such communication, a trap-board pivotedintermediate its ends in said compartment, and means forsecuring said trap= board in positionto permit, or to prevent, respectively, the passage of the bees through said exit, substantially as described.

2. A bee-swarm catcher comprising a lower trap-compartment communicating with the hive and provided with-an exit-opening in line with such communication, a trap-board 95 pivoted intermediate its ends in said compartment, a hinged side to said compartment Ahaving a vertical slot, and a spring-latch in said slot whereby the trap-board may be held in position to permit or prevent the passage loo` of the bees through said exit, substantially as described. y

3. Abee-swarm cetchercomprisingalower with the hive, a trap-board pivoted in the compartment, an intermediate queen and lower compartment, and means whereby said drone compartment, and an upper comparttrap-board may be set and held in position to ment, the lower compartment communicatpermit, or prevent, the passage of the swarm 15 5 ing with the hive and with the intermediate through said exit, substantially as described.

compartment by openings to permit the pas- In testimony whereof l afx my signature sage of the whole swarm and the intermediin presence of two Witnesses. nte and upper compartments communicating ERNST STEMMLER. by means of openings to permit of the work- Vitnesses:

Io ers only, the lower compartment having an F. STEPHAN,

exit-opening in line with its communication A. BROIUTIGAM- 

